Sleep paralysis

[lynnalb15]

So the past few nights I haven't told anyone because I didn't wana be considered mentally unstable but once I finally fall asleep its the crAziest thing. I lay there and my body goes numb and I am awake seemingly. And I have been seeing shadow figures that creep way too close to me. I cannot see their faces or make out what they are but I have looked it up and it is a sleep disorder called sleep paralysis. It is when your body falls asleep before your
Mind and you are physically unable to move your in rem part of sleep and your able to dream and also half awake. It is scaring me terribly. I will lay there unable to move or
Wake myself and all I can think is god please help me someone come wake me up. Last night was the worst a shadow sat down on my bed and had the had over my face. I prayed to god to make it stop and next thing I knew I was awake. I'm deathly afraid to sleep tonight. Here is An article on the disorder.


Physiologically, sleep paralysis is closely related to REM atonia, the paralysis that occurs as a natural part of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Sleep paralysis occurs either when falling asleep, or when awakening. When it occurs upon falling asleep, the person remains aware while the body shuts down for REM sleep, and it is called hypnagogic or predormital sleep paralysis. When it occurs upon awakening, the person becomes aware before the REM cycle is complete, and it is called hypnopompic or postdormital.[5] The paralysis can last from several seconds to several minutes, with some rare cases being hours, "by which the individual may experience panic symptoms"[6] (described below). As the correlation with REM sleep suggests, the paralysis is not entirely complete; use of EOG traces shows that eye movement is still possible during such episodes.[7] When there is an absence of narcolepsy, sleep paralysis is referred to as isolated sleep paralysis (ISP).[8]
accompanied by terrifying hallucinations (hypnopompic or hypnagogic), perceived deafening loud noise and an acute sense of danger.[9] Sleep paralysis is particularly frightening to the individual because of the vividness of such hallucinations.[8] The hallucinatory element to sleep paralysis makes it even more likely that someone will interpret the experience as a dream, since completely fanciful or dream-like objects may appear in the room alongside one's normal vision. Some scientists have proposed this condition as an explanation for reports of alien abductions and ghostly encounters


You wake up, but you can’t move a muscle. Lying in bed, you’re totally conscious, and you realize that strange things are happening. There’s a crushing weight on your chest that’s humanoid. And it’s evil.


You’ve awakened into the dream world.

This is not the conceit for a new horror movie starring a ragged middle-aged Freddie Prinze Jr., it’s a standard description of the experience of a real medical condition: sleep paralysis. It’s a strange phenomenon that seems to happen to about half the population at least once.

People who experience it find themselves awake in the dream world for anywhere from a few seconds to 10 minutes, often experiencing hallucinations with dark undertones. Cultures from everywhere from Newfoundland to the Caribbean to Japan have come up with spiritual explanations for the phenomenon. Now, a new article in The Psychologist suggests sleep researchers are finally figuring out the neurological basis of the condition.



It's the scariest thing ever. I don't know what to do. Should I talk to my counselor and has anyone experienced this. Please I need help.

[minn66]

Did you experience this before? You may be right that it is a spiritual type of growing experience. I never had the fear part, just the paralysis and the merging of awake and sleep. Talk to your counselor about it. This may be an important part of your healing. Thinking of you,

Minn

[lynnalb15]

I'm literally stuk awake because I am too scared to sleep. It's no joke and I dont think it's right what's happening to me. I don't believe in demons but when this happens it's so real I just can't help but think that it is just that. I think I need to have god more involved in my daily routine in life. Because when this happens I see shadowy figures and I can tell they aren't there to just look. I feel them wanting to hurt me. I may sound totally insane bt the first night it happened on Wednesday the figure stood by my bed. I could see him but couldn't turn my head to look it even yell for help. So I prayed to god to help me wake up and with in a few seconds of praying I woke. Call me crazy but u think it's a sign that I need more of him in my life period. I've never ever been religious until I had my daughter and still not very much so. But he helped me thru that night and in Thursday night the hand that was over my face wanted to hurt me I could tell I felt massive annoys of pressure on my chest as if I was being restrained. And once again I said a prayed asking god to be with me and it was over. I know it's a medical thing happening and has explanations but I think it is happening to me to make me realize that I am not right with god at this very moment. And I do not know how to be. I want him in my life more and how do I go about this? I need it to help me thru this. I am going to talk to my counselor in the morning. Scariest thing to ever happen to me. I am going to sleep as soon as the sun rises. I just feel safer then. Sharlola can you please talk tome about your experience maybe it can help me a bit.

[minn66]

Lynn, I have had similar experiences. You are awake yet asleep. It is so real. I have even thought my husband came in and had a conversation with me. It happens to me about twice a month and has actually been going on since I was a child. It happens when I take a nap during the day for some reason, like my body just won't completely allow itself to truly go to sleep. I guess I never thought of it as any kind of disorder. I certainly don't relate it to using. I just thought that's how my body is and sort of just accepted it. I'm glad you posted about it. Thank you for sharing the article. It helps to know that I'm not the only one who has experienced this.

[Bkitty]

I have had this happen a lot of times,,esp when I was using still. I never could fall into a deep sleep. Now that I have been sober a while,,I have not noticed having an episode. I know exactly how scary this is,,,I dont see the hallucinations but I feel the weight and pressure and am trying sooo hard to move and wake up. Once I wake up though and get myself together I can go back to sleep with no issues. I agree too,,you need to talk to your counselor about this,,its a common disorder Ive heard. ~Bkitty

You are NOT mentally unstable!!

[gnarly_1]

HI I often say our battle is not in the flesh but ageist the powers of darkness lynn read a bible b/4 you go to sleep and ask Jesus to protect you  in my early Christianity we studied about demons and you are experiencing classic symptoms of them attacking you.....pray the blood of Jesus over you when this is happening they cannot stand up to his name I will pray for you also this is nothing to mess with and dont try and fight it in the flesh this is a spiritual problem and it satins las attempt to hold you in bondage good luck and God bless.......Gnarly    

[sharlola35]

Lynn, I have had experiences similar to this especially when I was younger..I feel for you honey.  Yes, talk to your counselor about this.  Let me know if you would like me to share more....
Sharon